City of San Jose

	About San José   San José at a Glance San José has a world-renowned quality of life, offering a wide variety of exciting cultural, recreational, educational and entertainment opportunities. In addition, the City of San José has the nation's best public safety record of any metropolitan area, a marvelous ethnic diversity and a beautiful climate. FOUNDED: November 29, 1777 (as Pueblo de San Jose) San José was California's first civilian settlement. INCORPORATED: MARCH 27, 1850 (as City of San Jose) San José was one of the first incorporated cities in California and site of the first state capital. INCORPORATED AREA: 178.2 SQUARE MILES COUNTY: SANTA CLARA MAP: San José is the largest city in the Bay Area, located roughly 50 miles south of San Francisco and 390 miles north of Los Angeles. POPULATION: 1,023,000* San José is the third largest city in California, following Los Angeles and San Diego. It is the 10th largest city in the U.S. (Note: Current population figure comes from the California Department of Finance. Population estimate as of January, 2010.) This is a 1.8% increase over last year's estimate of 972,190, and an 10.6% increase since the start of the decade when our population was 894,943.  #1 IN TECHNOLOGY EXPERTISE The San José area is home to the largest concentration of technology expertise in the world--more than 6,600 technology companies employing more than 254,000 people. CLIMATE San Jose, CA climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and cool during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 50's. The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 84.30 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is December with an average minimum temperature of 41.00 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 27 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 18 degrees Fahrenheit. San José boasts an average of more than 300 sunny days per year, and has an annual average precipitation at San Jose is 15.08 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is January with an average rainfall of 3.03 Inches. ELEVATION The highest elevation is 4,372 at Copernicus Peak, near Lick Observatory at Mt hamilton in the Diablo Range; the lowest elevation is sea level. Click here to view the City Facts brochure.   Why We Love San José		About San José Government Diverse Community Sustainable Community Financial Information History and Geography Demographics Education Income Employment and Employers Housing Quality of Life Population City Awards

San José City Hall 200 East Santa Clara Street San Jose, CA 95113 Main: (408) 535-3500 Fax: (408) 292-6731 TTY: (408) 294-9337 e-mail: customerservice@sanjoseca.gov Walk-In Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

The City of San Jose is committed to open and honest government and strives to consistently meet the community’s expectations by providing excellent service, in a positive and timely manner, and in the full view of the public. Please View the City of San Jose's Code of Ethics, Council Policy 0-15 City links City Home | City Services | About San José | Visitors | Feedback | Search | Contact Us | Site Index Additional Information Access Instructions for Users with Disabilities | Problems Viewing Site E-Government Policies (PDF) | Statement of Purpose | Privacy and Disclosure | Security | Disclaimer Suggestions? As a customer-driven organization, the City of San José welcomes any suggestions you might have to help us serve you better. City Employees For employees only, access web-based mail

 

via sanjoseca.gov

Sounds good - more research needed me thinks

North Korea warns of war games consequences - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Print Email Share

North Korea warns of war games consequences

By Stephen McDonell and wires

Updated Sun Nov 28, 2010 1:01am AEDT

The commander of the two slain marines says their deaths will have grave repercussions (AFP: Jung Yeon-Je)

• Related Story: South Korea buries artillery strike casualties
• Related Story: North Korea attack linked to leadership succession
• Related Story: N Korea stages artillery drill, warns of war
• Related Story: China steps in to defuse Korean war threat
• Related Story: Deadly exchange of fire between two Koreas

North Korea has warned of "unpredictable consequences" if the US and South Korea go ahead with today's planned naval exercises in the Yellow Sea.

The massive naval war games have angered Pyongyang and its ally Beijing, and South Korea's president Lee Myungbak has warned there could be "further provocation" from the North.

Nuclear-powered carrier the USS George Washington and its battle group is heading for waters west of the Korean peninsula for four days of exercises.

Washington has stressed that the Yellow Sea manoeuvre is "defensive in nature", was planned before North Korea's attack, and is not aimed against China.

The United States also says that its display of naval firepower will act as a "deterrent" to the volatile regime of Kim Jong-Il, which has kept the region on edge for years with its nuclear and long-range missile tests.

But North Korea's official KCNA news agency issued an ominous warning: "If the US brings its carrier to the West Sea of Korea (Yellow Sea) at last, no one can predict the ensuing consequences".

The divided Korean peninsula is locked in the worst crisis in decades, triggered by North Korea's bombardment of the small border island of Yeonpyeong, located near their flashpoint maritime border.

The North said it was responding to live fire by South Korea into its waters.

Two marines were killed in the attack, along with two civilians. Many others were wounded and a number of houses caught fire.

An opinion piece published in North Korea's state-run media said any civilian deaths from its artillery attack were "very regrettable".

But it added that the deaths were South Korea's fault for treating civilians as "human shields".

South vows revenge

The slain marines, Sergeant Suh Jung-Woo, 22, and Private Moon Kwang-Wook, 20, were laid to rest during a nationally-televised funeral service in Seoul yesterday.

The marines' commander, Major-General Yoo Nak-Joon, told mourners at the ceremony that their deaths will have grave repercussions.

"We will certainly avenge your deaths. All marines, including marines on service and reserve marines, will avenge the two at any cost, keeping today's anger and hostility in mind," he said.

"We will put our feelings of rage and animosity in our bones and take our revenge on North Korea."

Around 1,000 South Korean veterans have marched through Seoul to protest against what they say is their government's weak response to North Korea's attack.

- ABC/AFP

Tags: government-and-politics, world-politics, unrest-conflict-and-war, china, north-korea, south-korea, united-states

First posted Sun Nov 28, 2010 12:37am AEDT

via abc.net.au

UN Resolution on Iran – One Step Closer to International Court | Million Voices Campaign

This post is also available in: French

On Thursday, November 18, 2010, the UN General Assembly approved a draft resolution condemning the human rights violations in Iran. The One Million Voices for Iran campaign welcomes this resolution as a clear signal that the voices of Iranian people being subjected to daily human rights abuses are being heard by the international community.

Drewery Dyke, Iran researcher for Amnesty International, announced the vote on Twitter: 80 for, 44 against, and 57 abstaining. News spread rapidly across the internet and no doubt will be covered widely in the weekend newspapers. The resolution is expected to be approved and implemented in December, and managed to pass despite intense lobbying from the Islamic Republic.

Mohammad Javad Larijani, the head of Iran’s human rights council, attempted to file a No Action Motion (NAM) to prevent the vote from occurring. Voice of America reported that Larijani demanded the NAM vote on the grounds that the UNGA did not have the jurisdiction to pass the resolution. Larijani blatantly took advantage of the fact that he was permitted entry into the United States to lobby against the resolution and attempt to undermine the integrity of the UNGA. This is a blatant abuse of the democratic principles of the United Nations.

Eight individual government officials are already under US State Department sanctions; prohibited from obtaining travel visas to the United States due to their role in government-sanctioned human rights abuses in the Islamic Republic. No other countries have yet passed these necessary humanitarian sanctions, which bar those individuals within the Iranian regime responsible for human rights abuses from travel and freeze any assets held in the respective country.

The One Million Voices for Iran campaign organizers ask the United States to expand the existing humanitarian sanctions to include more officials, including Mohammad Javad Larijani. As the head of its human rights council and an advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Larijani has repeatedly denied that atrocities are occurring Iran, despite documented and published evidence. Additionally, the campaign calls on UN member nations and other countries to implement humanitarian sanctions on individual members of the Iranian leadership.

The UNGA resolution is the latest in a growing list of positive actions taken against the Islamic Republic’s continued human rights abuses. Each positive measure is a response to calls from grassroots movements rather than any capitulation to lobbying from political groups. Despite their claims, these groups do not appear to be representing the people of Iran’s demands as much as they are representing their own ideology and pushing an agenda that may be detrimental to freedom and a hindrance to justice.

These positive actions include:

• the United States sanctioning responsible individuals and calling for the release of political prisoners;
• the European Union’s September 2010 resolution on the human rights situation in Iran
• human rights groups, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Federation for Human Rights calling for the release of political prisoners

The One Million Voices for Iran Campaign welcomes the resolution and sees it as a signal that the United Nations is finally acknowledging the voice of the Iranian people. We will continue to press for increased humanitarian sanctions and the creation of an international criminal court to bring those responsible to justice.

One Million Voices does not speak alone when calling for these measures. We have listened to the demands from inside Iran’s horrible prisons and they are our mandate. What began with political prisoners calling for the recognition of their rights and Majid Tavakoli writing about his yearning for the “enemies of democracy and freedom and human rights” to be unveiled has expanded. Political prisoner Heshmat Tabarzadi called for Supreme Leader Khamenei to be brought before the international courts; Hossein Khezri, a political prisoner sentenced to death, placed his faith in the international community and formally appointed all human rights activists to act as his legal representatives and save his life. Ayatollah Sayed Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi, who has been tortured in prison, thanked U.S. officials for the September 29 humanitarian sanctions and asked all human rights defenders to push for an international tribunal.

One Million Voices is not alone in this effort. Other human rights activists, including Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi and women’s rights activist Shadi Sadr have called for increased humanitarian sanctions and the establishment of an international criminal court. On November 9, Ebadi spoke before the UN and called for increased humanitarian sanctions. In an interview on 11 November after collecting the Katharine and George Alexander Law Prize from Santa Clara University School of Law, Shadi Sadr said sanctions for human rights violations is a difficult road, but an achievable goal. Inside Iran, journalist and activist Mohammad Nourizad has complained to the Supreme Leader about the horrific torture and human rights abuses, and is now implicating the Intelligence Ministry and the judiciary.  Mohammad Mostafaei holds Khamenei responsible for all human rights crimes and violations in his 16 November blog post.

Dozens of international organizations, associations and committees have shown their support for imprisoned journalists, unionists, teachers, lawyers and human rights activists in Iran, as well as those who have escaped from Iran after being subject to arrest, torture and brutality. On November 18th, jailed journalist Koohyar Goudarzi ‘s mother dedicated the award she accepted on his behalf to the mothers of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Iran and across the world.

As 16 Azar (7th December), known in Iran as Students’ Day, approaches, Iran Green Voice (Rahesabz) is promoting international action to support students in Iran. Among their aims is “supporting international sanctions against state officials who have engaged in systematic human rights abuses and violations against the Iranian people.”

After the crackdown following the 2009 election, people in Iran and activists throughout the world placed their hopes in the UN. When they failed to act, many were left wondering how to pursue justice and support Iranians in their push for freedom. It is becoming increasingly evident that the most effective way is to first sanction those officials responsible for human rights abuses, and then establish the means to bring them to justice in international criminal court.

Tags: human rights, International Criminal Court, Iran, One Million Voices for Iran, UN

via speak4iran.org

United4Iran - http://united4iran.org/

• Featured
• Take Action
• U4I's Blog
• Upcoming Events
• Past Events

Featured

Urgent Action Needed: Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi urges you to send an e-letter for the safe release of Nasrin Sotoudeh!

Click here to send e-letters for Nasrin Sotoudeh! We strongly encourage all to send e-letters to Iranian officials, the High Commissioner on vthe life of Nasrin Sotoudeh, an imprisoned human rights lawyer and the winner of Italy’s 2008 Human Rights International Award. This United4Iran campaign, which demands that the Iranian government immediately release Sotoudeh, has been launched based on an emergency request from Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi. As a colleague of Nasrin Sotoudeh, Ms. Ebadi urges people worldwide to send these e-letters calling upon the High Commissioner for Human...

Take Action

Urgent Action Needed: Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi urges you to send an e-letter for the safe release of Nasrin Sotoudeh!

Click here to send e-letters for Nasrin Sotoudeh! We strongly encourage all to send e-letters to Iranian officials, the High Commissioner on vthe life of Nasrin Sotoudeh, an imprisoned human rights lawyer and the winner of Italy’s 2008 Human Rights International Award. This United4Iran campaign, which demands that the Iranian government immediately release Sotoudeh, has been launched based on an emergency request from Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi. As a colleague of Nasrin Sotoudeh, Ms. Ebadi urges people worldwide to send these e-letters calling upon the High Commissioner for Human...

U4I's Blog

Tournament of Hope: First Refugee Football Tournament in Turkey (Video)

On June 12, 2010, which marked both the 2010 World Cup and one year since the disputed election, three teams of Iranian refugees – two from Turkey and one from Afghanistan – held their own soccer tournament in central Turkey. The tournament organizers recently finished editing this amazing video and forwarded it to be shared. The three teams and their supporters used the tournament to show solidarity with the June 12th Global Day of Action and highlight the IRI’s rights abuses in Iran, while using this opportunity to rebuild their communities and their lives. A warm...

Upcoming Events

Upcoming: Iranian Students’ Day (16 Azar/Dec 7)

Background – Issues to Highlight - Demands – Day’s Actions – Support the Day Background In honor of December 7th, 2010, Iran’s Students’ Day, leading Iranian student activists, some of whom are recently out of Iran, are organizing a day of action to take place on university campuses and in cities around the world, as well as online using internet-based advocacy. United4Iran (U4I) is honored to support the student activists who are spearheading this year’s Iran Students’ Day (16 Azar). To keep up-to-date on the latest developments for students in Iran,...

Past Events

UN General Assembly: Rally Day (Gallery & video – Sept 23, 2010)

On the day of Ahmadinejad’s address to the United Nations, several activist groups from across the United States and Canada, including UASDI and New York’s SCADI, joined in front of UN Plaza during Ahamadinejad’s speech to rally and protest against rights abuses. From there, many continued once more to the Hilton to make heard the voices of the Iranian people. The rally saw performances from musician Rana Farhan, as well as a public painting “session” by artist Soheil Tavakoli. Many signed postcards to be sent to UN officials demanding accountability for rights...

Featured Posts

UN News Center: UN human rights chief concerned at Iran’s ‘crackdown’ on activists

23 November 2010 – The United Nations human rights chief today voiced concern about the fate of human rights defenders in Iran, whose situation she says is becoming increasingly difficult. Navi Pillay cited in particular the case of Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was on hunger strike for several weeks in Tehran’s...

[Continue reading: UN News Center: UN human rights chief concerned at Iran’s ‘crackdown’ on activists]-->

---

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: UN Resolution on Iran’s Human Rights Violations Approved by Huge Margin

(18 November 2010) The Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly’s strong approval of a draft resolution, condemning Iran for grave human right violations, is a welcome step in the continuing effort to put a stoplight on the country’s growing human rights crisis, said the International Campaign...

[Continue reading: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: UN Resolution on Iran’s Human Rights Violations Approved by Huge Margin]-->

---

Tournament of Hope: First Refugee Football Tournament in Turkey (Video)

On June 12, 2010, which marked both the 2010 World Cup and one year since the disputed election, three teams of Iranian refugees – two from Turkey and one from Afghanistan – held their own soccer tournament in central Turkey. The tournament organizers recently finished editing this amazing video...

[Continue reading: Tournament of Hope: First Refugee Football Tournament in Turkey (Video)]-->

---

Read More Posts From Featured Posts »

Recent Posts

Upcoming: Iranian Students’ Day (16 Azar/Dec 7)

Background – Issues to Highlight - Demands – Day’s Actions...

---

Jailed Iranian Lawyer Puts Her Life on the Line

Posted: November 5, 2010 03:25 PM By Hadi Ghaemi and Aaron Rhodes On a dry hunger...

---

OpenDemocracy.net: Human rights lawyers in distress

Roja Bandari and Philip Grant, 8 November 2010 It is an ironic indication of...

---

RFE/RL: Students, Legislators Protest Dissolution Of Iran’s Medical University

November 02, 2010 Iranian students and parliament deputies are protesting a...

---

Radio Zamaneh: More covert mass executions in Iranian prison

Following recent reports of mass executions in Mashhad’s Vakilabad Prison,...

---

Read More Posts From Recent Posts »

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: UN Resolution on Iran’s Human Rights Violations Approved by Huge Margin

(18 November 2010) The Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly’s...

---

Six Followers of Imprisoned Cleric Arrested

Five days ago, the homes of supporters of dissident and imprisoned cleric Seyed...

---

Five Lawyers Arrested, Only Three Identified

In recent days five lawyers have been arrested in Tehran. Only three of the...

---

Phillipine National at Vakilabad Prison Appeals for Help

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has received a letter from...

---

Sotoudeh Ends Hunger Strike Following Trial Session

Nasrin Sotoudeh’s first trial was held today at Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary...

---

Read More Posts From International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran »

via united4iran.org

http://united4iran.org/

» War Witness: Making young soldiers fight is always easier

Alien Nation: ‘Black sheep’ foreign crooks face boot as Swiss vote

Brave New Nano: Flexible phones & graphene gadgets in RT’s Technology Update

Anti-North riots rock South Korea as tension high after Yeonpyeong shelling

For ‘Lost Boy,’ Vote in Sudan Is Homecoming

ROK, US launch large-scale joint naval drill

WikiLeaks set to reveal what US really thinks of David Cameron

via internationalglobe.com